The Importance of Peanuts
The Importance of Peanuts
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Last month, I wrote an article about the importance of The Peanuts (aka Charlie Brown and his lovable pals). This month, let’s examine plain-old delicious peanuts.
As any nut expert might already know, peanuts are not in the “nut” category. They are actually a “legume” (alongside green peas, soybeans, and lentils) because they grow as pods with the edible part inside the pod (If you ever wish to appear smarter, just casually bring up peanuts and call them legumes). According to Healthline, the peanut goes by various nicknames, including earthnut, groundnut, and (here’s a good one) goober. Peanuts are rich in protein and studies link peanuts to a reduced risk of heart disease.
The history of peanuts begins in Peru or Brazil, where the peanut plant likely originated. The Incans of Peru used peanuts as sacrificial offerings and placed them in the tombs of their mummies to aid the deceased as they transitioned into the spiritual world. Peanuts weren’t grown commercially in the U.S. until the early 1800s. The mighty snack was actually originally reserved for the poor and as food for livestock until P.T. Barnum’s circus popularized it by selling peanuts in concession stands. As better machines for harvesting, shelling, and cleaning peanuts were invented, demand for them increased rapidly.
Today, peanut products are some of the most profitable in the United States. According to the National Peanut Board (yes, the U.S. has a national board for peanuts), “Americans eat more than 7.9 pounds of peanut products each year, worth more than $2 billion at the retail level.” Sales of peanut butter alone clock in at about $850 million a year. To be fair, not many people can resist a peanut-y candy, especially those special holiday Reese’s peanut butter cups in the shapes of bats and Christmas trees.
The National Peanut Board has a website packed with facts about the beloved legume and is even equipped with a news page. The Board’s mission is to “improve the economic condition of USA peanut farmers through compelling promotion and groundbreaking research.” The site is also home to a plethora of recipes and compelling information on the prevention of peanut allergies, which in 2017 affected nearly 2.5% of children in America.
I started this article with no direction, but here’s what I’ve concluded after engaging in minor peanut research: No matter who you are, peanuts are involved in your life in some way, whether you realize it or not. Finally, I hope that you haughtily correct your friend the next time they call peanuts a nut and say, “it’s actually a legume.”
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/peanuts
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-peanuts
https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/
https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/food/peanut/
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